Target trap foot operated cocking and releasing device

• US 6,062,207 A
• Filed: 05/29/1997
• Issued: 05/16/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Underhill, Clinton James
• Original Assignee: Underhill, Clinton James
• Inventors: Underhill, Clinton James
• Primary Examiner(s): Ricci, John A.
• Application Number:
  US08/865,215
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• Field of Search: 124/8
• US Class Current: 124/8
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 9/20 with spring-operated throwing arm

Abstract

A clay target launcher designed to be operated by a single person during target practice includes a base with a rotatable launching arm mounted thereon, which accommodates a clay target, a trigger to latch the arm in a cocked position and movable to release the arm, and a foot pedal. A spring is mounted between the foot pedal and the throwing arm to apply rotational bias to the arm, and a trigger release actuator is attached between the foot pedal and the trigger. When the foot pedal is in its upper position, the spring is not tensioned, so there is no danger of accidentally releasing the target. When the user is ready to release a target, he depresses the pedal with his foot, thus tensioning the spring. When the pedal is fully depressed, the trigger release actuator is effective to move the trigger to allow the throwing arm to rotate and launch the target.

Claims

1. A target throwing machine, comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a target throwing arm rotatably mounted on the base for rotation between a cocked position and a released position;

(c) a trigger arm, the trigger arm movable between a holding position in which it prevents the target throwing arm from rotating from its cocked position to its released position, and a firing position in which the target throwing arm is allowed to rotate from its cocked position to its released position;

(d) a spring having two ends, for applying rotational bias to the target throwing arm from the cocked position toward the released position;

(e) a pedal arm adapted to be depressed by a user'"'"'s foot, attached to the base for movement between an upper position and a depressed position;

(f) one end of the spring attached to the target throwing arm, and the other end of the spring attached to the pedal arm, such that movement of the pedal arm from the upper position toward the depressed position will tension the spring;

(g) a trigger release actuator attached between the trigger arm and the pedal arm, the trigger release actuator effective to move the trigger arm from the holding position to the firing position only when the pedal arm is moved fully from the upper position to the depressed position;

(h) whereby, in preparation for throwing a target, the target is placed on the target throwing arm, and the target throwing arm is moved to its cocked position and the trigger arm is moved to its holding position to hold the target throwing arm in its cocked position, and the spring is not tensioned; and

(i) whereby to throw a target, a user applies force to the pedal arm to move the pedal arm from its upper position toward its depressed position, which adds tension to the spring, and when the pedal arm reaches its depressed position, the trigger arm is moved by the trigger release actuator to its firing position, which releases the target throwing arm to quickly move to its released position under bias from the spring, thus throwing the target.